Tractor terrace blade with load accommodating means



Dec. 25, 1962 J. T. RYALS 3,069,792

TRACTOR TERRACE BLADE WITH LOAD ACCOMMODATING MEANS Filed Oct. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

John 7. Rya/s 1N VEN TOR.

Dec. 25, 1962 J. "r. RYALS 3,069,792

TRACTOR TERRACE BLADE WITH LOAD ACCOMMODATING MEANS Filed Oct. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 50 26 Mill-" 1 24 Y an 15w 1 John 7. Rya/s INVENTOR.

iinited rates Eatcnt 3,069,792 TRACTOR TERRACE BLADE WETH UJAD ACQGMMQDATWG MEANS John T. Ryais, R0. Box 225, Uniouvilie, Mo. Filed Get. 5, 1961, Set. No. 143,122 14- Ciaitns. (U1. 37-177) This invention relates to a novel and useful tractor attachment in the form of a terrace blade having load accommodating mean and the attachment is constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily modified for use with both two and three point tractor lift arms.

The attachment of the instant invention includes a generally L-shaped lift frame which includes a rearwardly projecting horizontal portion and a forward transversely extending upstanding portion. Means is carried by the upstanding portion adapted to be secured to a tractor lift and a depending terrace blade assembly is carried by the underside of the horizontal portion of the lift frame. The terrace blade assembly includes an elongated upstanding and transversely extending blade member and means is provided for mounting the blade member in depending relation from the horizontal portion of the lift frame for adjustable positioning about an upstanding axis and for adjustable positioning about a horizontally disposed axis extending from front to rear of the lift frame. The mounting means is provided with releasable means for retaining the upstanding blade member in selected rotated positions and load accommodating means is carried by the horizontal portion of the lift frame beneath which the upstanding blade member is disposed in order that a heavy load may be carried by the lift frame and be utilized to effect a downward thrust on the lift frame thereby enabling the upstanding blade member to bite into the surface over which it is being pulled.

The main object of this invention is to provide a terrace blade attachment with load accommodating means for a tractor which may be utilized to perform various types of grading operations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tractor terrace blade attachment in accordance with the preceding object including drawbar means on the rear end thereof whereby the attachment may also be used to pull draft implements.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tractor terrace blade attachment which may be readily modified for use in conjunction with both two and three arm tractor lifts.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a tractor terrace blade in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so a to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the attachment shown secured to a three arm tractor lift;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 with parts of the attachment broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 33 of FIGURE 2 with parts of the attachment broken away and shown in section and an alternate position of the blade member shown in phantom lines;

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FIGURE 4 i a fragmentary enlarged perspective View of the attachment with parts thereof being broken away and showing the manner in which the blade member is mounted for rotation about an upstanding axis and a horizontally disposed axis extending from front to rear of the frame of the attachment;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the mounting means for the blade member illustrated FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sec tion line 77 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a modified form of attachment adapted for securement to a two arm tractor lift, portions of the attachment being broken away and shown in section.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the terrace blade attachment of the instant invention which is shown in FIG- URES l and 2 operatively connected to a three arm tractor lift generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 which comprises a part of the tractor generally referred to by the reference numeral 16.

The tractor attachment 1% includes a generally L- shaped main frame generally referred to by the reference numeral 13 which includes an upstanding forward portion generally referred to by the reference numeral 20 and a horizontally disposed rearwardly projecting portion generally referred to by the reference numeral 22.

The horizontal portion 22 includes a pair of inverted L-shaped transversely spaced and parallel brace members 24 and 26 which have a pair of laterally spaced and transversely extending parallel mounting members 28 and 39 secured therebetween. A bottom wall 32 is secured to the upper surfaces of the brace members 24 and 26 and the bottom wall 32. comprises a part of load accommodating means carried by the horizontal portion 22 of the frame 18. The upstanding portion 20 of the frame 1% includes a front wall 34 and the load accommodating means also includes opposite side walls 36 and 38 and a rear wall 40. The front wall 34 opposite side walls 36 and 38 and the rear wall 40 define an open top receptacle for receiving a load 42, see FIGURE 2. A

drawbar which is in the form of an inverted L-shaped member 4a is secured across the rear edge of the bottom wall 32 and is apertured as at 45 for connection to a draft implement.

It will be noted that the brace members 24 and 26 extend forwardly of the forward wall 34 and that a pair of generally L-shaped mounting brackets 46 and 4-8 are secured to the front surface of the front wall 34 and the upper surfaces of the brace members 24 and 26 which project forwardly of the front wall 34. A pivot shaft 50 extends between the L-shaped mounting brackets 46 and 43 and the lower arms 52 of the three arm hitch 12 are pivotally secured to the opposite ends of the shaft 58.

I A pair of upper mounting brackets 54 and 56 are secured to the upper portion of the front wall 34; in any convenient manner such as by welding and to the forwardly directed flange 53 which is carried by the upper end of the forward wall 34. A pivot pin 6G is connected between the mounting brackets 54 and 56 and the upper arm 62. of the lift 12 is pivotally secured to the pivot pin 66 at its free end.

From FIGURE 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the opposite side walls 36 and 38 as well as the rear wall 49 each terminate at their upper ends in inwardly directed flanges 64 which in turn terminate in downwardly directed flanges 66. Further, it will be noted that the downwardly directed flanges 66 each terminate in outby the reference numeral 94 secured thereto.

'2 Gi wardly directed flanges 68 which abut the inner surface of the corresponding wall at their free ends.

The attachment 10 includes an inverted L-shaped pivot shaft generally referred to by the reference numeral 70,

see FIGURE 4, which includes a forwardly projecting horizontal leg 72 and a depending rear leg 74. An innermost stop collar 76 is secured to the leg 72 in any convenient manner such as by welding 78 and an outermost collar 80 is secured to the free end of the leg 72. A sleeve 82 is rotatably journalled on the leg 52 between the stop collars 76 and 80 and it will be noted that the stop collars 76 and 80 comprise abutment means preventing axial shifting of the sleeve 82 on the leg 72. A pair of generally U-shaped clamp members 84 and 86 are utilized to fixedly secure the sleeve 82 to the mounting members 28 and 30 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 88 secured to the apertured ear portions 90 carried by the clamp members 84 and 86. In this manner, the leg 72 is pivotally secured to the horizontal portion 22 for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

The blade member of the attachment It is generally referred to by the reference numeral 92 and has a generally H-shaped mounting bracket generally referred to The mounting bracket 94 includes a pair of generally parallel upstanding transversely spaced legs 96 which are interconnected by means of a generally horizontally disposed cross member 98. The legs 96 may be secured to the blade member 92 in any convenient manner such as by welding and the leg 74 also has a pair of stop collars 76 and 80 secured thereto. It will be noted that the stop collar 80 is removably secured to the leg 74 by means of a setscrew 83 and it is to be understood that the stop collar 80 carried by the leg 72 is similarly secured thereto.

A sleeve member 82 is also journalled on the leg 74 and is fixedly secured to the cross member 98 by means of a pair of U-shaped clamp members 84 ad 86 similar to those carried by the mounting members 28 and 30. Fasteners 100 are utilized to secure the ear portions of the U-shaped clamp members 84 and 86 to the cross brace 98.

From FIGURES through 7 of the drawings it will be seen that a generally U-shaped spring clip 102 is releasably engaged with each of the sleeves 82 and that each of the spring clips 102 includes a curved bight portion 104 from which there projects inwardly a keeper pin 196.

The sleeves 82 are each provided with circumferentially spaced radial bores 108 and each of the legs 72 and 74 is provided with a diametric bore 110 which is selectively registrable with the corresponding bores 108. Accordingly, each keeper pin 186 may be utilized to retain the corresponding sleeve 82 in adjusted rotated positions on its corresponding leg.

It will be noted that a generally U-shaped element 112 and including a bight portion 104 is carried by the bight portion 104 of each of the spring clips 102. The keeper pins 106 each project outwardly of the corresponding bight portions 104 and are secured at their terminal ends to the corresponding portion 114 of the associated U-shaped element 112.

Accordingly, it will be noted that the U-shaped elements 112 define a passage between the bight portions 104 and 114 which may be utilized to receive an implement for removing the U-shaped spring clips 102.

Accordingly, it may be seen that the blade member 92 may be swung about the axis of rotation defined by the leg 72 and may also be pivoted about the axis of the rotation defined by the leg 74.

In use, the attachment may be used with or without a load 42 but if extremely hard soil is being graded, it Will'be-beneficial to-have a load 42 disposed on the bottom wall 32. The blade member 92 may be adjusted as defined and from FIGURE 8 of the drawings it will be noted that the attachment It may be modified by the addition ofa pair of socket members 120 for receiving the rear ends of the arms 122 of a two point lift generally referred to by the reference number 124. In this manner, a modified form of attachment generally referred to by the reference numeral 126 is formed and may be used in the same manner in which the attachment 1G is used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tractor terrace blade with load accommodating means, said terrace blade comprising a generally L- shaped lift frame including a rearwardly projecting horizontal portion and a forward transversely extending upstanding portion, means carried by said upstanding portion adapted to be secured to a tractor lift, said horizontal portion of said frame having load accommodating means thereon, a depending terrace blade assembly carried by the underside of said horizontal portion, said terrace blade assembly including an elongated upstanding blade member, means mounting said blade member in depending relation from said horizontal portion for adjustable positioning about an upstanding axis and for adjustable positioning about a horizontally disposed axis extending from front to rear of said frame, said horizontal portion including a pair of parallel horizontally disposed brace members extending from the front to the rear of said lift frame, said load accommodating means including a bottom Wall secured over said brace members, a pair of transversely extending and parallel mounting members secured between said brace members, said mounting means including a generally inverted L-shaped pivot shaft having an upper horizontal leg and a depending rear leg, said pivot shaft lying in an upstanding plane extending from front to rear of said lift frame, a bearing sleeve journalled on each leg of said pivot shaft, said shaft including abutment means between which each of said sleeves are disposed, preventing axial shifting of said sleeves relative to the corresponding leg, and means rigidly securing the lowermost of said sleeves to the rear of the mid-portion of said blade member and the upper sleeve to said mounting members.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means releasably retaining each of said legs in adjusted rotated positions relative to the corresponding sleeve.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rigid securing means comprises a pair of generally U-shaped clamp members embracing the opposite ends of each of said sleeves at points spaced longitudinally therealong.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said abutment means each comprises a pair of stop collars fixedly secured to the corresponding leg between which the associated sleeve is snugly received.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the stop collar of each pair thereof disposed closest the free end of the corresponding leg is removably secured to the latter.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said sleeves are each provided with oircumferentially spaced radial bores, said legs each having a diametric bore formed therein selectively registrable with said radial bores, a generally U-shaped spring clip including a curved bight portion removably and clampingly secured to each of said sleeves, each of said bight portions including a keeper pin projecting inwardly thereof and receivable in the corresponding registered bores.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each of said bight portions has a generally U-shaped element secured to the outer surface of its bight portion opening toward anew/92 the latter and including a bight portion, each of said keeper pins also extending outwardly of the corresponding spring clip bight portion and secured at its outer end to the bight portion of the associated U-shaped element.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the rear edge of said bottom wall has a transversely extending tow bar secured thereto.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lift frame includes means adapted for securement to a three-point tractor hitch.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lift frame includes means adapted for securement to a two point tractor hitch.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said load accommodating means also includes adjoining front, rear and opposite side walls interconnected by means of said bottom Wall forming an open top receptacle for receiving a load.

12. A tractor terrace blade with load accommodating means, said terrace blade comprising a generally L-shaped lift frame including a rearwardly projecting horizontal portion and a forward transversely extending upstanding portion, means carried by said frame adapted to be secured to a tractor lift, a depending terrace blade assembly carried by the underside of said horizontal portion, means mounting said blade assembly in depending relation from said horizontal portion for adjustable positioning about an upstanding axis and for adjustable positioning about a horizontally disposed axis extending from front to rear of said frame, said mounting means including a generally inverted L-shaped pivot link having an upper horizontal leg and a depending rear leg, said pivot shaft lying in an upstanding plane extending from front to rear of said lift frame, a bearing sleeve journaled under each leg of said pivot shaft, said shaft and 3 sleeves including coacting means preventing axial shifting of said sleeves relative to the corresponding leg of said shaft, and means rigidly securing the lowermost of said sleeves to said blade assembly and the upper sleeve to said horizontal portion of said frame.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said sleeves are each provided with circumferentially spaced radial bores, said legs each having a diametric bore formed therein selectively registrable with said radial bores, a generally U-shaped spring clip including a curved bight portion removably clampingly secured to each of said sleeves, each of said bight portions including a keeper pin projecting inwardly thereof and receivable in the corresponding registered bores.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein each of said bight portions has a generally U-shaped element secured to the outer surface of the bight portion opening toward the latter and including a bight portion, each of said keeper pins also extending outwardly of the corresponding spring clip bight portion and secured at its outer end to the bight portion of the associated U-shaped element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED ST TES PATENTS 347,820 Moulton Aug. 24, 1886 1,600,336 larmin Sept. 21, 1926 1,775,314 Mahoney et a1 Sept. 9, 1930 2,428,857 Smith Oct. 14, 1947 2,493,565 Arps Ian. 3, 1950 2,629,946 Ewers et al Mar. 3, 1953 2,983,060 RoOselot May 9, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 728,578 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1955 

